"Vanilluxe, unable to battle!"
As Rotom referee raised its flag.
"So the winner is, Johan!"
This battle with Glacia officially ca to an end.
The final result.
Johan defeated Hoenn’s Ice-type Elite Four Glacia at the "cost" of Ceruledge!
Though Ceruledge hadn’t completely lost consciousness under the burning "Blessed Fire," it was close enough.
For the upcoming battle against Drake, Ceruledge had no ability to participate.
"Congratulations, Johan." Glacia recalled her final Vanilluxe, smiling in congratulation.
Johan wore a bitter expression.
Honestly.
Though he’d long known about the "Refrigerate Explosion" tactic, he really hadn’t expected Elite Four Glacia to be so decisive, not giving ga Glalie much battle opportunity before directly using Explosion.
After all, ga Glalie was Elite Four Glacia’s ace - solidly Champion-level strength.
Wouldn’t normal people want to use their ace Pokémon’s power to defeat more opponent Pokémon, even turn the tables?
Too decisive, too sudden.
This tactic... was like Chakra, one of Team Rocket’s three beast warriors.
However.
Precisely because of this, Elite Four Glacia could catch Johan off guard.
Otherwise, the longer the battle dragged on, the more Johan would be on guard.
When ga Glalie truly had little stamina left, Johan would definitely be highly alert, guarding against Explosion.
"Elite Four Glacia, that was really... ’surprising.’"
Glacia smiled charmingly: "I originally wanted to see more from you, but now it seems I’m still quite lacking."
Johan couldn’t help shaking his head.
No need for that - why probe his depths?
"But it’s fine." Glacia’s smile remained unchanged. "Though Drake is unreliable, doesn’t work diligently, and always wants reimbursents, his strength is unquestionable."
Johan’s expression was strange.
Seed Elite Four Glacia held quite a "grudge" against Elite Four Drake.
But Glacia had one thing right.
That was Drake’s strength!
During Hoenn League’s period without a Champion, it was Drake’s strength that prevented major incidents.
Glacia continued: "Against Drake, don’t hold back either."
"Hm?" Johan was puzzled.
"Drake definitely wants to see your full strength - he’s also a battle maniac. If you hold back... he’ll be unhappy." Glacia gave Johan a "you understand" look.
Hearing this, Johan’s mouth curved slightly as he smiled:
"Of course, going all out is respect for the old man!"
They looked at each other, sharing understanding smiles.
Thud!!!
The door to the final battle room opened wide.
"Rest a bit?"
"No need."
"Then go."
"Mm."
Johan walked toward the passage.
Watching his back, Glacia sighed lightly.
From now on, her work could be a bit easier...
Right?
"The final checkpoint!"
Seeing Teacher Johan enter the final passage, audiences beca excited again.
They were waiting for this final battle, that final result.
Just by defeating Elite Four Drake, with Hoenn League’s Champion position originally vacant, Teacher Johan could directly ascend to Hoenn League’s "Champion throne" on the spot!
Witnessing a Champion’s ascension firsthand was extrely rare.
Competitions happened year-round, but "Champion Road" wasn’t opened daily.
Moreover.
Elite Four Drake’s strength was evident.
He was absolutely Hoenn League’s pillar.
This battle was destined to be a peak showdown!
Under audience attention.
Teacher Johan finally reached the "Elite Four Fortress’s" final battle room.
Thud! Thud!
On the big screen, both combatants’ portraits appeared.
Blue side: Hoenn League, Dragon Elite Four, Drake!
Red side: Hoenn League, Pokémon Psychology Teacher, Johan!
Rules remained 6-choose-4 singles mode, unlimited move numbers, but limited held items and enhancent thods (ga Evolution, Z-moves, Terastallization) usage.
Most importantly, uncaptured Mythical/Legendary Pokémon were forbidden!
All eyes focused.
Waiting for battle to begin.
The "Elite Four Fortress’s" final battle room.
Walls, do, pillars all carved with various Dragon-type Pokémon, appearing solemn and dignified.
Elite Four Drake’s robust chest was bare, wearing a wide captain’s robe, body upright and firm as pine, his captain’s hat shadowing gentle yet deep eyes.
Bright lights illuminated the battle room completely.
"Finally here."
Hearing movent in the passage, Elite Four Drake’s presence was imposing, as if standing on his ship’s bow facing surging waves and howling storms, unmovable and suprely confident.
Despite his age.
Drake never considered himself old.
When he could no longer stand on ships, that would be when he truly needed rest.
As a man of the sea, he possessed only the montum of riding winds and breaking waves, advancing fearlessly.
Moreover.
His partners, those Dragon-type Pokémon, weren’t much affected by "human lifespans."
In Drake’s deep eyes reflected Johan’s young, smiling appearance.
In him, Drake seed to see his forr self - no, soone even more outstanding than his younger self!
"Johan." Elite Four Drake smiled gently.
Next second.
He suddenly swept his wide captain’s robe, bronze skin beneath showing defined muscle lines, Poké Balls from his waist already in hand.
"Let’s battle!"
Johan, just erging from the passage, was stunned.
No excess words, no trivial pleasantries, only surging battle intent washing over him.
Setting aside status, setting aside "Champion Road," setting aside all ntal constraints and shackles.
Before them.
The purest, most passionate, most thrilling showdown between trainers!
Johan’s expression beca serious: "Then, let’s fight!"
Rotom referee floated out with flags.
"Go!"
Drake threw his Poké Ball directly.
"Roar!!!"
Entirely covered in incredibly thick, solid armored scales, scales overall gray with golden edges, robust tail ending in a swollen club like a massive iron hamr.
It was Alola region’s pseudo-legendary Pokémon, Kommo-o!
Clang! Clang!
Scale against scale collision sounds accompanied Kommo-o’s movents, powerful and resonant!
Hm?!
Seeing the appearing Kommo-o, Johan was briefly stunned.
He hadn’t expected Drake to have an Alola region pseudo-legendary Kommo-o.
Seed Elite Four Drake often sailed around in his ship.
Moreover, this Kommo-o’s strength... was definitely not weak.
Solidly Champion-level!
But surprise aside, Johan’s Luxury Ball also landed on the field.
"Cha!!!"
Tinkaton shouldered its massive tal hamr, twin tails naturally hanging, grinning with seemingly cute eyes fearlessly staring directly at Kommo-o.
Even in those fearless eyes, thick interest appeared.
Those scales looked very tallic!
Try prying one off!
"Fairy-type Tinkaton? Really imposing..."
Drake looked at Tinkaton, internally sighing.
But as Rotom referee’s flag dropped.
Battle officially began!
"Kommo-o, Dragon Dance!" Drake called first, shouting loudly.
"Roar!!!"
Kommo-o roared, its robust body swaying, whole body producing crisp scale collision sounds, tail swaying powerfully as montum began wildly climbing.
Clang! Clang! Clang—
Those collision sounds were like a passionate, soaring war song, an ancient battle song, declaring great battle’s arrival!
"Tinkaton, Fake Out!"
Johan also called without hesitation.
Letting Kommo-o complete Dragon Dance would undoubtedly be troubleso.
"Cha!"
Tinkaton grinned, terrifying power suddenly bursting from its seemingly delicate small body, forcefully swinging the hamr on its shoulder.
Whoosh—
The massive hamr flew straight toward Kommo-o.
Then Tinkaton also ran, directly pursuing.
"Knock it away!" Drake shouted again.
Facing Fake Out’s hamr, neither Drake nor Kommo-o showed any wariness.
Kommo-o, performing its ancient war dance, suddenly twisted its body, its robust tail wrapped in thick scales unhesitatingly striking the incoming hamr.
Clang!!!
Like direct collision between heavy tals, accompanied by flying sparks and dull sounds erupting.
"Cha?"
Seeing the hamr fly back, Tinkaton looked surprised.
Eh?
Its hamr... was actually knocked back?
Johan was also sowhat surprised.
Good grief.
Even directly knocking away Fake Out?
Not even affected by "flinch"?
Not following Pokémon battle basics!
Wait!
That was Quick Guard just now?!
[Quick Guard: Only effective when opponent uses priority moves, striking first to counter!]
Johan and Tinkaton were surprised, while Kommo-o was shocked.
Though it knocked away Tinkaton’s hamr without falling into "flinch" status, that hit... made its tail completely numb!
Thoroughly numb.
Sowhat uncontrollable.
What the hell kind of hamr was that?
So heavy?!
You had to know, even against a mountain, Kommo-o was confident it could smash a huge gap with its tail.
Given more ti, leveling mountains wouldn’t be difficult.
But just one collision with the hamr...
Its tail imdiately lost sensation!
Fortunately.
It gritted its teeth without showing it, the clanging scale collisions reaching climax, montum also peaking.
"Tinkaton, Swords Dance!"
Seeing Fake Out ineffective and Kommo-o’s Dragon Dance unstoppable, when opponents enhanced, self-enhancent prevented obvious disadvantage.
Clap!
The flying hamr was easily caught by Tinkaton.
Clanging blade sounds rang from the dark red aura around Tinkaton, its charging posture continuing while montum wildly climbed.
"Kommo-o, charge forward - Close Combat!" Drake’s voice soared, waving grandly.
Kommo-o paused, exerting force with both feet as ground exploded, swinging robust arms and its sowhat recovered tail, advancing instead of retreating.
Arms and tail from two angles, like violent storm weaving afterimages, continuously attacking Tinkaton.
Its movents flowed like water, quite like a martial artist, unleashing its power and speed to the maximum.
Tinkaton gripped the hamr handle with one hand, dragging the hamr head with the other, using the heavy tal hamr to parry Kommo-o’s attacks.
Protect!
Simultaneously, Tinkaton’s montum reached its peak.
Far in Galar region’s Isle of Armor, Master Mustard and Leon, plus martial arts dojo students, sat around the television watching the livestream.
Leon clenched his fists, staring intently.
"Teacher Johan and Elite Four Drake... really strong..."
He also wanted to have an exhilarating battle with these two.
Mustard held his teacup but forgot to drink, clicking his tongue: "Drake, that guy, how old is he yet still so energetic~"
"Master, Master, you know Elite Four Drake?" a student imdiately asked.
"Of course~" Mustard didn’t turn his head: "We fought countless battles back then."
"What were the results?"
Mustard grinned: "Heh, this old man naturally... won more, lost less~"
Won more, lost less?
Mustard was Galar region’s legendary Champion - winning wasn’t surprising, but having losses ant Elite Four Drake was truly strong!
The television broadcast undoubtedly confird this.
"But little Johan is even stronger..."
"!!!"
Though Teacher Johan was indeed strong, wasn’t he currently being suppressed?
"The counterattack’s coming." Leon suddenly said quietly.
Bang!!!
Under Kommo-o’s continuous Close Combat offensive, its numb tail finally recovered, the final full-body twist striking like a teor hamr, heavily hitting Tinkaton’s hamr.
This tail strike was powerful and heavy, actually sending Tinkaton flying several ters with its hamr!
Tinkaton staggered several steps, heavily slamming its hamr on the ground to stabilize.
It imdiately checked its hamr.
Confirming no dents on the hamr face, it sighed in relief.
Hey!
Tinkaton suddenly raised its head toward Kommo-o, suddenly grinning.
"Cha!"
You’ve hit enough, right? My turn!
Seeing Tinkaton’s Swords Dance complete, Johan imdiately commanded:
"Tinkaton—"
"Gigaton Hamr!"
Tinkaton suddenly rose, taking a large step forward, the hamr originally in front shifting behind while its grip didn’t loosen, suddenly exerting force!
Using body position, the hamr imdiately swung in an arc, gleaming with bright tallic luster like a cannonball, thrown forcefully by Tinkaton.
The massive heavy hamr broke through air, unstoppable!
Drake’s pupils contracted.
Even he could feel the power and impact carried by that thrown hamr, air being compressed, making his body feel trapped in mud, movent more difficult.
But quickly, Drake showed excitent.
"Kommo-o, Clanging Scales - catch it!"
Clanging Scales, Kommo-o’s signature move, trading so stamina for all stat increases!
"Roar!!!" Kommo-o roared.
Clang!!!
Surrounding scales trembled, producing crisp yet heavy tallic sounds, montum rising again as it spread its arms, directly facing the incoming hamr!
"There’s an opening, from below!" Drake suddenly called again, eyes flashing.
Kommo-o also suddenly turned, heavy tail carving a deep furrow in the ground, when reaching the front, the hamr also arrived nearby.
Full body exertion.
Kommo-o’s tail struck upward from below.
Clang!!!
The hamr spun as it bounced upward.
TV-watching Leon’s fist trembled: "All masters..."
Mustard quite agreed.
"Whether Drake’s Kommo-o or little Johan’s Tinkaton, both unleashed their power to the maximum."
Tinkaton swinging the hamr in full circles, Kommo-o dragging its tail in full swings - both were power usage techniques to unleash their strength without reservation.
"However..."
In Leon’s vision.
That pink figure actually followed closely behind the hamr the entire ti!
Until the hamr was struck flying, that pink figure also leaped high without hesitation.
Gigaton Hamr wasn’t over!
"Cha!"
Leaping mid-air, Tinkaton precisely and skillfully caught the hamr handle.
Pink twin tails fluttering, the smile on its face hadn’t faded, interest in its eyes only intensified.
"Now, Tinkaton - Play Rough!" Johan shouted.
Waiting for this mont!
"Cha!"
For the first ti, Tinkaton gripped the handle with both hands, whole body taut like a drawn bowstring, striking downward from above.
Deliberately showing an opening?
Drake’s heart jumped.
Gigaton Hamr plus Play Rough?!
"Hahaha—" Drake suddenly laughed loudly, excitedly roaring: "Excellent!!!"
"Kommo-o!"
He shouted without giving specific instructions, but Kommo-o understood his aning.
Taking a deep breath.
Instantly.
Kommo-o’s eyes turned red, montum reaching terrifying levels in re monts, stamina greatly reduced but gaining maximum power.
Belly Drum!
Then all body power gathered in both arms, red glow wrapping, powerful fighting spirit surrounding.
Focus Punch!
Fist and hamr, one below one above, one punching one striking.
In that brief instant, ti seed frozen.
Next second.
BOOM!!!!
Centered on Kommo-o’s position, ground suddenly rose then quickly collapsed, tremor ripples forming earth’s veins, spreading outward like waves!
Countless debris flew with ground destruction.
Large amounts of dust rose.
Just one move.
The entire reinforced battle field looked plowed from end to end, completely destroyed!
Gulp—
Ever Grande Stadium fell into eerie silence, screen-watching audiences gaping.
Until swallowing sounds broke the calm.
"Holy shit..."
Countless words condensed into the simplest, clearest vocabulary.
Wasn’t this too violent, too exciting?
Was this really sothing ordinary audiences should watch?
After another brief silence.
Roar—
The entire venue erupted in intense cheers, tsunami-like sounds rising from the circular arena, shouting for both sides on screen.
Bang!!!
Dust shook.
Instantly cleared.
In the chaotic ruins, Kommo-o lay on the ground.
Tinkaton leaned on its hamr, standing proudly beside Kommo-o, breathing heavily with flashing eyes.
Though not triggering the "bird-strengthening" buff, fighting this Kommo-o... was quite satisfying!
"Roar..."
Kommo-o struggled twice but couldn’t stand again.
Tinkaton glanced at it, brushing aside disheveled hair with a grin.
"Cha!"
Your ’big pendulum’ isn’t hard enough - next ti find , I’ll help you forge it, give you 20% off!
Kommo-o’s eyes rolled back, going in circles.
Unable to battle!
Drake recalled Kommo-o, looking at Tinkaton’s still gleaming, spotless heavy hamr, couldn’t help saying:
"Good hamr..."
What an incredible hamr!
Tinkaton that could swing such a hamr was even more incredible!
"Good, excellent." Drake laughed with satisfaction.
Happy while throwing his second Poké Ball.
"Flygon—!!!"
Dust rose as a light green Flygon danced with dust and sand particles, flying into the field.
Ethereal voice like a desert spirit, movents light and agile, circling and dancing.
The "Earth Dragon" Flygon!
From its aura.
Also a Champion-level Dragon-type Pokémon!
Johan looked sowhat "resentfully" at Elite Four Drake.
ntally counting on his fingers.
Kommo-o, Flygon, plus ace Salance - Drake had at least three Champion-level Pokémon.
This was just the minimum, possibly more.
Worthy of a veteran trainer from Professor Oak, Elite Four Agatha, and Mustard’s generation.
With such strength, yet unwilling to be Champion.
Your "nobility" makes us younger generation seem disrespectful to elders.
In that case...
Let’s follow Elite Four Glacia’s suggestion!
"Rest a bit, Tinkaton."
Johan recalled Tinkaton first.
Facing Drake’s slightly "expectant" gaze, he chuckled and threw his second Luxury Ball.
"Oowoo—"
Ethereal and lodious, agile and graceful.
Snow-white elegant figure leaped onto the field, slightly raised head looking at the dancing Flygon, azure eyes sparkling.
Ninetales!
Sandstorm?
It’s snow!
Ninetales’ fur gently swayed, snow-white ice crystals scattering around it.
Blizzard instantly filled the field, large snowflakes with cold wind directly suppressing the slight sand dust Flygon had raised!
"Ninetales?"
Drake wasn’t surprised, just slightly troubled.
Among Johan’s main Pokémon, two were Fairy-type, making him, as Dragon Elite Four, feel sowhat challenged.
Especially Ninetales.
Ice plus Fairy-type - absolute nesis of Dragon-type Pokémon.
For Ground and Dragon-type Flygon, Ice-type was four tis super effective.
However, as a veteran Dragon Elite Four, Drake wouldn’t give up.
Just type disadvantage.
Wasn’t the previous Kommo-o four tis weak to Fairy?
But it fought quite evenly with Tinkaton.
Four tis weak to Ice...
Before Fairy-type discovery, Ice-type was Dragon-type Pokémon’s greatest nesis - as a veteran Elite Four, wouldn’t he know?
"Flygon, Fire Blast!"
Drake attacked again.
Johan raised an eyebrow.
Not choosing to contest weather with Ninetales was very wise of Drake.
Weather contests were what Ninetales feared least.
However...
Without contesting weather with Ninetales, how could they defeat his Ninetales?
This was a contradictory problem.
Whoosh—
Blazing flas ford a massive "大" character, fire soaring skyward, directly lting large amounts of snow, falling from above, nearly covering most of the field.
With such large attack coverage, no need to worry about Fire Blast’s accuracy.
"Ninetales."
Johan and Ninetales faced that massive Fire Blast with relaxed expressions.
"Blizzard!"
Directly ignoring the falling Fire Blast, Ninetales sang softly while azure eyes filled with light.
Instantly.
Flygon, which had dispersed surrounding blizzard by using Fire Blast, was imdiately engulfed by blizzard again.
Moreover.
Even that Fire Blast was engulfed by surging blizzard, seeming to disappear completely except for firelight.
Watching that terrifying blizzard, audiences were deeply shocked.
This Blizzard’s power could probably one-shot Flygon!
Howling blizzard suddenly dispersed.
Audiences’ expressions imdiately froze.
On the field, Elite Four Drake’s expression was sowhat grave, holding two Poké Balls in his hands. The mid-air Flygon had disappeared, replaced by Duraludon standing before him!
"Close call..." Elite Four Drake sighed internally.
Seeing Johan and Ninetales choose to ignore Fire Blast’s threat to attack, he decisively switched out Flygon, otherwise Flygon would truly be one-shotted.
Why could the previous Kommo-o entangle with Fairy-type Tinkaton?
Because Tinkaton lacked ranged thods, itself being a physical attacker needing actual strikes to deal sufficient damage.
Kommo-o itself also excelled in close combat and physical attacks, so could counter moves.
But Ninetales choosing to ignore Fire Blast’s threat, fighting with "trading damage" tactics, forced Elite Four Drake to switch.
Letting switched-in Duraludon take Blizzard’s edge damage.
As for why audiences were stunned...
"Fro-frozen?!"
"What did I see! Fire Blast was frozen?"
"Flas! How can flas be frozen?!"
The blazing Fire Blast was actually frozen mid-air!
If not for its still flickering orange firelight, one might think ice crystals were painted with dye.
But...
How was this possible?!
How was it done?
Previously Teacher Johan’s Ninetales could freeze flas too, but this ti the opponent was Elite Four Drake’s Champion-level Flygon’s Fire Blast, not so baby Pokémon’s flas.
Hiss—
Mid-air ice crystals emitted white smoke, quickly dispersing.
Fire Blast "broke free" from restraints.
But its power was greatly reduced.
Finally dissipating in the blizzard.
No wonder it directly ignored Fire Blast’s threat... Elite Four Drake understood.
Though Flygon wasn’t Fire-type, Ninetales’ move was indeed shocking enough.
The just-appeared Duraludon, which avoided Blizzard’s center range, was already covered in snow.
Clang! Clang!
Duraludon’s body slightly trembled, the covering snow and frozen ice crystals finally fell off, revealing its original appearance.
Looking at its body emitting bright tallic luster, its defense seed enhanced!
"Stalwart" ability!
[Stalwart: When receiving attacks, physical defense increases!]
Unfortunately.
Against Ninetales, physical defense increases weren’t very useful.
As both Dragon and Steel-type, Duraludon was among the few Dragon-type Pokémon not fearing Ice and Fairy-types.
Was this Elite Four Drake’s counterasure when facing extrely disadvantageous Ice and Fairy-type Pokémon?
Lance would really need such Pokémon - biggest flaw might be inability to fly.
Steven might also be very interested.
Steel plus Dragon-type destined Duraludon’s excellent resistances.
Moreover, Duraludon was the only Pokémon that, though not called "pseudo-legendary," had base stats reaching 600 points like pseudo-legendaries!
Actually calling it "pseudo-legendary" wouldn’t be wrong.
However, after Duraludon evolved from Duraladon, it also had so drawbacks.
For instance, Duraladon could Gigantamax, but after evolving into Duraludon, it could only Dynamax.
Against Duraludon, Ninetales not only had no type advantage but was at absolute disadvantage.
Four tis weak to Steel!
But Johan didn’t choose to switch Ninetales.
More switching would fall into passivity and disadvantage.
Rather than switch, better let Ninetales continue.
Though type-disadvantaged, that didn’t an its attacks couldn’t damage Duraludon.
More importantly...
In strength, Ninetales had absolute advantage!
"Nature’s Madness!" Johan commanded sternly.
"Oowoo!!!"
Ninetales crouched, surrounding aura rippling with pink Fairy-type energy, making the opposing Duraludon feel uncomfortable.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Earth’s veins trembled. Under Ninetales’ "Fairy Aura" expansion, seemingly a life force belonging to earth rged into Ninetales’ body.
Ninetales’ montum also wildly climbed at this mont.
Elite Four Drake and Duraludon imdiately realized sothing was wrong.
"Duraludon, Flash Cannon!"
Hum—
Duraludon raised both arms, tallic energy frantically gathering and compressing at its chest, finally becoming a straight beam shooting toward Ninetales.
Boom!!!
Rumbling accompanied impact, large amounts of snow and ice crystals flying.
Drake and Duraludon stared intently at the hazy center of impact, breathing involuntarily slowing.
When snow mist gradually dispersed, seeing the unhard, agile elegant spirit in the snow again, Drake’s eyes widened, subconsciously exclaiming:
"Legendary?!"
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